The Ordinary Christian Podcast

Matt Reynolds is the founder of Barbell Logic , a former professional strongman, and has performed as an elite-level powerlifter. Matt is a former gym owner and a long-time respected strength coach. Most importantly, Matt is a committed follower of Jesus with a powerful story of grace and redemption. On this episode of the podcast, Matt share’s his story, speaks of his awakening to the full power...

On this episode of the podcast, Craig talks about the value of committing to community through a local church. The world is desperate for community, for relationships and even accountability. People are looking for a place to belong. The secular world will offer many options to fill the void caused by loneliness and isolation. Let’s do all that we can to show the people around us that the church i...

Often, the most important disciplines in our life are the decisions we will make before our discipleship. In this episode of the podcast, Craig offers three suggestions to help you grow as a disciple of Jesus: Remover barriers to spiritual growth. Make the right decision the easy decisions. Make the discipleship decision the appealing decision. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast . Y...

I am blessed to pastor a church with healthy children’s and student ministries. I get asked often how to create these ministries. On this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Adam Whiteside, our student pastor, and discuss student ministry. Topics addressed include: What is a healthy student ministry? How to create a healthy student ministry within a healthy church. How to create a healthy stud...

Jake Morris is a teacher and assistant head football coach at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Jake is also a committed follower of Jesus, a husband, and a father. I have known Jake since I was his youth pastor when he was in middle school. On this episode of the podcast, Jake and I talk about the importance of investing in young men and how coaches can and must care about more t...

What is secularism? Wikipedia says, Secularism  is the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on  secular ,  naturalistic  considerations. It is most commonly defined as the  separation of religion from civic affairs and the state , and may be broadened to a similar position concerning the need to remove or to minimize the role of religion in any public sphere...

After one more normal night of frustration, exhaustion, and feeling like a failure at parenting, Justin Whitmel Earley realized that something needed to change in his house. He recognized that the habits of his household were not nurturing his marriage and his children in the way that he wanted. So, he decided to make some changes. The changes in the Earley household focused around gospel shifts i...

Is news important? How should Christians consume news, respond to the news, and even publish news of our own. On this episode of the podcast, Dr. Chris Hefner helps Christians think carefully through some of these issues. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast .

Much is said about the work pastors can do to make their churches healthier. But, churches have far more lay members than pastors. Healthy churches are made up of ordinary, healthy church members. You don't need to be a pastor to make your church healthier. Your church needs everyone to do their part to be healthier. Brian Croft of Practical Shepherding joins me today to show you some steps to mak...

Paying the tax we do not owe often means choosing to be the offended if it advances the gospel or helps to maintain unity within the church. Paying the tax may mean apologizing even when you do not feel that you were wrong (or that you were the only one wrong). Sometimes in ministry, paying the tax may mean keeping our mouths shut when we could share information that would make us to look better.

God created us not only for romance, but for friendship as well. In some ways, being a friend is just being you and being available. In other ways, friendship is active–you can  be  a friend by doing something for those whom you love. You need friends and your friends need you. Tune in to learn how you can  be  a friend to someone who needs it today.

Often people walk into marriage with unrealistic expectations and unspoken assumptions. In this episode of the podcast, Craig helps to unpack some of those common myths so that you can work to bring your marriage out of fantasy and into the real world. Subscribe to The Ordinary Christian Podcast.

Recent months and years have brought much discussion around the topic of complementarianism–the belief that women and men are given different roles in the home and the church. Joel Rainey helps to unpack some of the abuses around the idea of complementarianism and gives some really good advice on raising sons and daughters. Along the way we talk about changing oil, loving our wives, and raising ki...

Smart phones are tools that can help us to live our lives and communicate with others more efficiently. However, like any tool, when used improperly, phones can become a danger. This is especially true among teen culture. Listen in as Adam Whiteside and I work to help you navigate the dangers of cell phone abuse among teens and young adults. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast .

Thomas Austin was a standout football player at Clemson University and spent several years playing offensive line in the NFL. After his NFL career Thomas served as a graduate assistant at Clemson, an offensive line coach at Georgia State University, and has recently returned to Clemson as an offensive analyst. Thomas is married to Margaret and they have four kids. In this episode, Thomas speaks of...

Is social media a good thing? A bad thing? A necessary evil? It can be any and all of those things. But, like most things, social media is a tool that we can leverage faithfully as followers of Christ. Matt Rogers helps us to think more carefully through issues surrounding the use and misuse of social media. Along the way, we share some particular ways pastors struggle with social media as well.

“I am a woman trapped in a man’s body.” That statement drove Carl Trueman to investigate what has happened in Western culture to create a situation where, “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body,” are words that makes sense in the same sentence. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Dr. Trueman’s latest book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self , which traces cultural transitions from Roman...

Have you ever struggled to share the gospel? The Great Commission is everyone’s job, but sometimes that job isn’t easy. Listen in as Dr. Tim Beougher shares some tips on personal evangelism. Simple steps like praying for your waitress or inviting a co-worker to church can open doors for you to share the gospel. In this episode you’ll also get tips on how to use gospel tracts and what kinds of trac...

Tom Mullikin is a senior environmental attorney, seasoned expert on global environmental policy, award winning documentarian and author, and senior military officer. Tom’s environmental work has taken him to every continent on earth, including multiple trips to the Arctic and Antarctica. Tom is also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. I know you will learn much from Tom in this podcast, ju...

A Baptist and a Presbyterian walk into a bar…Not really, but this is a conversation between a left leaning Presbyterian doctor and a right leaning Baptist pastor. Russ Blackwelder is doctor and faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina. Russ is also one of my college roommates and a long time friend. In this episode of the podcast, Russ and I discuss how we can disagree agreeably,...

Aesthetics is the study or appreciation of beauty and beautiful things. As it relates to the Christian life, aesthetics is more than just pretty things, it is the appreciation of beauty in light of the Creator. An appropriate understanding and appreciation of beauty helps us to better worship and appreciate God. In this podcast we discuss the beauty of a sunset, of The Smashing Pumpkins, and of a...

Slow thinking doesn’t fit well within the age of social media and immediate news. Slow thinking looks more like philosophy and conversation and less like soundbites and tweets. Slow thinking looks like books and newspapers, coffee shop conversations, and complicated intellectual wrestling matches. Slow thinking takes hard topics and resists the temptation to boil them down to their least common de...

Dr. Donny Mathis wrote The Seven Arrows along with his pastor, Dr. Matt Rogers. On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Donny about how the Seven Arrows can help you to understand and apply the Bible. We also work to show how skipping straight to application can cause us to misunderstand and misapply God’s word. You can also find the Seven Arrows Study Bible here . Subscribe to  The Ordi...

What is a Christian worldview and why should you have one? Listen in as I speak with Dr. Tony Beam about the value of a Christian worldview and how you can develop one. Along the way we discuss discernment, politics, and wisdom as well as how you can live out your Christian worldview every day. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast

What is a Christian worldview and why should you have one? Listen in as I speak with Dr. Tony Beam about the value of a Christian worldview and how you can develop one. Along the way we discuss discernment, politics, and wisdom as well as how you can live out your Christian worldview every day. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast